Practise what you preach! 13 things in 2013

I seem to have got a bit preachy in my old age, I do apologise!  But all the same, I do believe you should practise what you preach... So approaching 2014, I thought I would look back on 2013 and pick out 13 things I achieved/learnt from/am thankful for.  I apologise now, take a seat.... This may be a long one ha!

*Number 1* A Mad Hatters Tea Party.

Who'dve thunk it!  What a way to turn 30, what a party to pull off, what an achievement!  I won't go on too much, I'm sure you're all bored with it by now! But if you want to read, here is the link...

http://mrssammyb13.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/a-mad-hatters-tea-party.html 

*Number 2* Mum's Surprise 50th Birthday Party.

On the party theme, we managed to pull off a surprise party for my lovely mum, and she knew nothing about it!  We managed to stop Dad keeling over with the stress of it all, we managed to behave semi normally around my Mum and not slip up and give the game away and we pulled it off without a hitch! I definitely think that is an achievement for 2013!

*Number 3* Holiday to West Africa.

I am very grateful to say I had a lovely 11 night holiday to The Gambia in West Africa in March this year.  We had a fab time and it was the first time we've been on holiday with my step daughter and it was lovely. Thank you J for having us to stay xx

*Number 4*  New Permament Job.

I am very grateful to say in a yucky 6 months of uncertainty, restructure and redundancy; that even though the sodding police didn't want me, I have secured a full time permanent contract within my organisation. Yes I am going to have to travel 60 miles a day to work, but it is a slight salary increase, a job I love and hope to be happy in.

*Number 5* Zumba

I have actually found an exercise class I love! I can't wait to get back and shake what my mumma gave me... Even if I am doing it all wrong and going the wrong way - at least I'm moving more and sitting less!!  Read a little more about it here... http://mrssammyb13.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/exercise-is-answer.html

*Number 6* Charitable Donations

Before, during and after my birthday I gave quite a lot to charity, intentionally of course! The props for my party, crockery etc were all bought from various charity shops and after the party, I sold all (well most of the props) and all the cash went straight to charity. 

My mum and I also took part in the Rucksack Project, we made 4 rucksacks filled with useful items for homeless people in Portsmouth. There are a couple of blog posts on here about this project, so do have a read if you fancy it!

The total from the props sold and cash given to charities was approx…..

The Rowans Hospice –£60

British Heart Foundation – £70

Cancer Research – £115

Womb Cancer Research - £50

*Number 7* Weight Watchers

Year upon year I've put on weight and just got fatter. This year I have stuck with weight watchers and although I haven't got to goal or even made a massive dent in the weight loss for one reason or another, I have stayed at it, I've lost some weight and put a little on, but I am NOT any heavier than this time last year, (Very tempted to write here, 2014 will be my year, but ahem* won't!).  All the time I am still trying, I have NOT failed.

*Number 8* Race For Life

We took part in the Race for Life again this year. It was hot, sticky, hard work, but we did it and we raised money for Cancer Research. Together we raised £205!

*Number 9* Became a Helper

At WW. I am a helper for our Saturday morning meetings in Hilsea.  Do come and join us - it's a lovely group and Donna is just such a lovely leader.  Her inspiration is unwavering and her support just the best. Thank you Donna for all your help and support x

*Number 10* Given Blood

When my sister was born, she needed 21 blood transfusions.  It would take me 6-7 years to be able to donate the amount of blood it took to keep her alive. It really is an hour out of your day, you even get a cuppa and a biscuit or packet of crisps out of it! I try and give blood as much as possible, but with 2 new tattoos this year and a trip to Africa I had to wait 4 months to go again, so have only given blood twice this year.  I know lots of people are unable to, but if you can, do go along - it's the least we can do!

*Number 11* Joined Organ Donor Register

I did this many years ago, but have got married moved etc, so thought I would ensure I was registered. This is really easy, a couple of clicks online and ta da! I have informed all my family of my wishes. When I'm gone, I won't need my organs any more, so I'd like to think someone else would benefit from them and make their life a little easier. Have a little look here.... http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk 

You never know if and when you or your loved one may need this service, so go on... join today :0)

*Number 12* Blogging

I'm still here and I still love it! Thank you to you all for reading and encouraging me. You are all amazing! Much love xx

*Number 13* I Survived

2013 has been and is about to go.  I've lived it, the good bits, the proud bits, the bad bits, the tragic bits. My friends and family have helped and supported me and I hope I have done the same for them. I have learnt loads, achieved loads, cried loads and made loads of memories. Thank you all xx

So that's it, give your eyes a rest! Thank you for sticking with me till point 13 and to the end of 2013. If you haven't lost the will to live, have a go and list 13 or at least some things that went well for you for 2013.  Just so you can look back, be grateful, be proud and to remember the good bits as well as the bad.

TTFN, Sammy xxx

Out with the old...

New year, new start.... How often have you heard that in the last week!  Even though NY resolutions may seem a bit pointless, you could turn this tradition into something positive, learn from past experiences and move on with a happier attitude.

This year has been interesting. It has been fabulous in places, rotten in others and mediocre at times. It's been emotional, it's been trying and it's been amazing.  I listen to all the 'This is going to be the best year yet', 'This is going to be my year', 'I can't wait for this year to be over's and try hard not to be scathing.

Every year is your year, every year you should be thankful for, you've lived it, you've coped and conquered and you've survived everything that has been thrown at you.  Even at the worst times, you've survived and are ready to face more. For example; last year for us was pretty rubbish, but I was not prepared to write the whole year off, after all, for one, my neice was born - no year could be bad when it contained a birth of a new life. The year did have its ups after all!

Always remember the lessons learnt, the memories made. Time waits for no one, treasure every moment you have.

Tomorrow I am going to reflect on the experiences I've had in 2013, both good and bad. Be thankful that I've been taught valuable lessons no matter how painful and pledge to move forward positively. 

I am thankful for my friends and family and plan to spend lots of quality time with them to create even more priceless memories.

Much love, Sammy xxx

Having a merry little Christmas!

Evening all, hope you've had a marvellous few days of Christmas celebrating with your friends and family, we certainly have!

The Rucksack project in Portsmouth went down a storm on 23rd December, here is a quote from the organiser of this event...

WOW! What an amazing day! Huge thanks to everyone that donated today, I can't believe how generous you all are. I don't think the Service Users could believe it either, most of them left this morning because it was so busy. After seeing all the packs that had been donated one service user said to me tearfully 'I'd almost given up hope, on everyone and everything, but to see that people really do care makes me feel better'. All service users that came today were given a pack, which they were thrilled with. Most of them also got new shoes, which was great as none of them had substantial shoes. Boycie the dog was kitted out with a new lead, blanket, and lots of food.

As well as packs lots of clothes, towels, and food were donated. Someone turned up with 240 mince pies, someone else with 8 chickens, a giant bag of potatoes and veg. 

Big thank you to Central Point for hosting the event, we basically disrupted their hole day - the staff can't even see their desks for all the rucksacks! 

So what is happening with all the packs? I have no idea what the total is, but there were hundreds delivered today. We're going to let Central Point sort them all out and distribute to the service users. As they hosted the event, we think it's only fair that they take what they need to give out to people over the next few months. We have made contact with services in Havant, Gosport and Fareham and Southampton, and they are thrilled to receive packs. 

Happy Christmas everyone x (Julie Eden)

What brilliant news! Couldn't have felt better and more proud that we were part of it.

In other news, I got some brilliant pressies, spent time eating, drinking and being merry with my nearest and dearest. All the decs are now down, the house cleaned and I've watched some rubbishy films to boot!  I also went back to weight watchers, not expecting anything magnificent, I haven't tracked, tried, exercised.... anything ha! But I jumped on the scales, faced the music and I've put on 1lb over Xmas. Not bad, not bad at all! I am expecting another gain this week as I'm still not back on it, but a new year is dawning!

Ttfn, Sammy xx

I'm ready... Updated!

Well I'm chuffed still with my bag for £22.00, my mum however has managed to do 3 for £17.50!!

My lovely Mum decided she'd have a go at collecting a few bits and if she couldn't complete a whole sack, would contribute her extras to mine.  Well mum popped in to a charity shop, who donated to  her a small rucksack and a bag of spoons (good start!) and she carried on her search of goods.

Today there is a market on in our home town of Waterlooville, so Mum thought she'd have a peruse for items and came across a stall called 'All-Cam' Military surplus goods. Mum stopped to have a natter and see what they had, but when the guy who worked on the stall told her the prices of the items, mum politely declined with them being out of her price range.  The guy was then interested in to why mum wanted such items and so she explained 'The Rucksack Project' to him.  Immediately he offered mum a bag and sleeping unit for just £10, which she snapped up!

Mum, still chatting with the guy, who explained he was a Buddhist and very interested in the movement as his religion puts him clearly in the 'do good to get good' frame of mind at all times; the stall holder came over to join them.  Between the guy and mum, they explained to Keith Allen, the owner of 'All-Cam' about the project and what mum was trying to achieve.  Keith asked my mum if she had any other shopping to do, and could she come back to him before she left Waterlooville.

Upon mums return to the stall, she was shocked and delighted to find that Keith had filled the one rucksack mum had bought with warm clothes and indeed gave her two further rucksacks filled with thermal leggings, clothes and coats!  So that was it, mums mission complete, after not being sure she'd manage to complete one bag, she now had three!

Keith explained to my mum that he, his wife and children had been homeless and lived on the streets for a time and he knew how much these rucksacks would mean to a homeless person, just for some extra warmth at this time of year.  Mum left Keith and his colleague and bought three thermal flasks from Wilko for £7.50 for the three and ta-da! 3 rucksacks for £17.50! Mum also raided hers and my sisters cupboards for some extra food bits to pop in the bags.

Mum and I took the three rucksacks she had and the one I'd made and shared all the items out between the bags. For example I had a packet of 4 toothbrushes - so we split them and put one in each. We added some extra food items, added tshirts, shared out the thermal leggings, put a coat in each and were done!!!

TTFN, Sammy xx

December 2013....

2013 has been emotional. 

 

As we are getting closer to Christmas and I am stressing more and more that I'm not ready, I am very aware that the year is coming to a close very soon.  This year was the first entire year without Nan and I'm not sure if this is the reason, but I am struggling with Christmas somewhat this year.  It’s like I cannot get my brain in gear to cope with it, I keep putting things off and off and telling myself I will think about them all nearer to Christmas…. Well Mrs. B it is now only 6 days away! 

 

I've hardly sent any cards, I've hardly wrapped any presents, I've not done anything.  I haven’t even put a tree up (I do have put a few bits of decorations up and around the lounge so I'm not completely bar humbug) I have finished Christmas shopping, so for that I should be grateful, and I've finished my rucksack of course – but that is IT!  But these are the least of my worries and to be honest if my worries are this small, I have nothing to worry about at all.

 

As well as Christmas and all that jazz, December has sadly bought us to a very tragic end of the year.  One of my lovely friends husband’s very tragically lost his very very short battle with cancer and has left behind his beautiful wife and his daughter.  There aren’t enough words to express how terrible this is, how much this has saddened everyone and how very cruel of life it is.  He was known by lots of people and there have been lots of lovely tributes to him on his facebook page and reading what people have taken the time and written about him is just lovely – but just so sad that he has been taken far too soon.

So please remember, especially at this time of year, hold your loved ones close, give them an extra hug and kiss and tell them how much they mean to you, for life is short and so very cruel at times xx

 

Heaven has gained another angel and we have lost a lovely chap, a true gentleman, a fantastic family man and a wonderful friend.  His loss will be felt by many far and wide. Sleep tight Mr H, you can rest peacefully now.  All our thoughts and prayers to your family left behind, especially the two girls you love so much, my heart goes out to them all. Much love xxx

 

 

I'm ready!!...

Well that’s it, I'm all ready!

 

For Christmas?..... No!!! 

 

But for my rucksack to be handed to a homeless person at Centre Point on Monday 23^rd December 2013. 

 

This rucksack is my gift to a homeless person in Portsmouth this Christmas.  All together it cost me about £22.  We are encouraged to buy things from charity shops/donate items from home etc for the rucksack, but there are some items in there I bought new such as the toothbrushes, toothpaste, food, toiletries, pants and thermal vests.  The rucksack is mine, I bought it for a camping trip – never ever to be repeated, so it was just sat around doing nothing, so what better way to move it on! 

 

I did have a comment about how it is that someone could and does spend so much money on their rucksack and contents, but I didn’t see my £22 as lots of money; I looked at it as I would probably pay £30-£35 for hair cut for Christmas, I can deal with the inches and forego that haircut to provide for someone else, so really it actually saved me £8-£13!

 

I am so pleased to have found this event, to be part of it and to be able to have made a rucksack to make a small difference in a person life.  Reading (most) of the comments on the Portsmouth events page has really restored my faith in humanity.  Various people offering help, people offering lifts, people just generally pulling together all for the same cause – its just amazing.

 

Julie Eden is an amazing lady to have co-ordinated all of this for the Portsmouth area and to keep up with all the posts and questions on the events page, Julie truly is an inspirational lady.  Sadly I have to workon Monday 23^rd on the day of the actual event, so I will be dropping my pack off on Saturday, but I know the organiser and the volunteers at Centre Point will do a brilliant job of passing my gift on.  Thank you all for making this happen.

 

Remember…. The days are getting colder, have a warm heart.

 

I was once told by a small African boy, ‘It’s nice to be nice’, and he’s right it is.  This month hasn’t been the greatest and this is the only thing that has made me feel remotely Christmassy so far this year and so proud to be giving a worthwhile gift at this time of year.

Well done everyone and Merry Christmas! xxx

 

My bag and its contents….

Rucksack

Sleeping Bag

Scarf

Gloves

2xHats

3xJumpers

Dried Nuts

Dried Fruit

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Socks

Mugshots

Cup a Soups

Noodle box

Flask

Spoon

Pack of Thermal Tshirts

Pack of pants

Bars of Chocolate

Wet wipes

Foot gel

Bag of mints

Small box of Quality Street

The Rucksack Project

Ok, so I mentioned before about my desire to go shopping and buy pretty things… if not, trust me… it’s what’s on my mind constantly and being very poor it just isn’t the way forward!

 

I have however decided to get involved with the Rucksack project, which in my mind is just bluddy excellent, which I mentioned briefly in a previous post…http://www.mrssammyb13.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/charidee-at-christmas.html  

 

Here is a bit more about them, their website and some info as to why they started… 

 

http://www.rucksackproject.org/

 

THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
I Founded in November, 2009 in Bristol, (UK). It was born out of a desire to simply help a homeless person who was sleeping rough during the freezing winter months. One bitterly cold late November day, I was wandering around the centre of Bristol with the last £12 in my pocket, joining the crowds of Christmas shoppers in their trawl for the usual perfunctory gifts, when I stepped up out of an underpass and my eyes drew level with a cold looking homeless man looking lost among the legs of the well-dressed, warm people in their designer labelled clothes and carrying smart paper store bags walking blindly past them. This stark contrast really struck me given that it was 'the season of good will' and yet, these lost souls were ignored while people went about their shopping.

I'd often popped into a store and picked up a bag of food items and given them to someone in the past, but i wanted to do more. Like many people, I'd often thought about doing the Christmas soup kitchen thing, but had never taken that step and then it struck me what I could do.

I went to my local YMCA charity shop and explained that I wanted to get a rucksack and put in it a sleeping bag, a fleece, a hat, gloves, socks, underwear, a flask that I filled with hot soup, a spoon, some tins of food (with ring pulls) and anything else I could fit in it...

They were amazing and they gave me two full sets for just £6 because they appreciated what I wanted to do. £4 for soup in the supermarket filled both flasks with soup and an extra tin.

A lovely lady who happened to be in the shop overheard us and asked me to pick-out some extra clothes to put in.. They charged her just £5 for 4 fleece tops... Buy these items in various charity shops supports not only the homeless people receiving them, but also the great many charities out there raising funds for so many different causes.

I added some extra food from my cupboard then took them into Bristol where I gave them to 'Steve' and his friends who were sleeping rough.

Words cant express how grateful they were and that is the best damn present I could have given anyone that Christmas.

As a web/graphics designer and big Facebook user, I came home that afternoon feeling good but knowing I'd still only helped one person, which somehow felt a little unfair when there were still so many people out there who needed the same help and so, I decided not to be quiet about what I'd done, but instead set-up a page on Facebook, created a simple logo and header and called it "The Rucksack project…

I only did this to try and encourage a few friends and family to do what I had done.. i thought maybe we could get ten or fifteen packs out there in Bristol, but I had no idea what was about to happen.

Within a few weeks, it had spread to 80 people and I was thrilled to think a few more packs had gone out. Inevitably, the new year came bringing milder weather and it all went quiet again until the late autumn 2010. Over that winter, the numbers swelled to just over 400 Likes on the page and, by the time the following winter ended, the page had some 1,200 Likes and was starting to get interest all over the place.

In December 2012, to aid the project, I decided to make a video to show people what we were all about and called out on the page for a volunteer. That's how I met Amy Little. We shot the film over a couple of days and I got it edited and online just before Christmas 2012 and that helped the project get up to around 1250 Likes by the end of that winter.

Winter 2013 was when it really took off and, with only a gentle nudge on the Facebook page, it suddenly went crazy, gaining 250 new Likes a day at one stage and, within a month, we'd more than doubled the followers to 2,750! The media started taking an interest and I was being asked for interviews on radio stations across the country.

 

There is lots more info on the website and they have a facebook page too.  This somehow makes me feel more involved and actually doing something for charity, rather than chucking a few quid somewhere, which I'm sure will be equally appreciated, but Christmas makes me think more about presents and giving and what better idea!

 

I have started my rucksack, I have the bag and a sleeping bag and so far I've bought some socks.  This weekend I am going to hit the charity shops of Waterlooville as well as having a good sort through Barney’s warm jumpers he does not wear and hope to get my rucksack done and taken down to Central Point in Portsmouth (my local event) as soon as possible.

 

Here is a few links you may be interested to read as well…

 

(warning some swearing)http://fannythechampionoftheworld.com/2013/10/23/emotional-baggage/

 

http://www.cause4opinion.co.uk/2013/11/helping-the-homeless-this-winter/

 

 

I'll keep you posted, Sammy xxx

 

The horrors....

Oh dear, life is very stressful at the moment to say the least! 

We’ve had a very expensive few months of dented cars to pay for, open heart surgery on a van to pay for, an unexpected tax bill to pay for and a looming Christmas and New Year to get through.  (As anyone who is self employed in the building trade will know that Dec and Jan are not favourable months for income!)  And it has left me with the most awful black horrors of ‘I can’t cope I need to go to bed, ignore everyone and stay there!’ that I just cannot snap out of.

Needless to say the ol’ diet, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal is suffering also, although I'll measure the damage at weigh in on Saturday  Although 3 separate people in the last week have commented that I look like I've lost some weight, so at least that is not a bad thing!  My WW leader did suggest I take the dog for a walk up a big hill and then scream my lungs out when I got to the top, to release some stress.  So if you hear someone wailing like a banshee from the top of Butser, don’t worry – tis just me and Jarvis out on a wintery walk!!

I am in total bah humbug mode and actually considering not putting any decorations up this year(!).  I appear to be running out of time (I know it is only 5^thDecember!) with lots to do and no time to do it in.  The Christmas puds have already been forgone this year and we’ve bought one for Christmas day, but I have been making some other bits and pieces including Christmas cards.  I just haven’t got round to doing anything other than making them and putting them in a box though!  I did receive my first Christmas card yesterday which has sent me in to an even blinder state of panic that I have only thought about mine and not written a single one yet, but I should try and remember to keep calm there are a whole 20 days to go!

In the middle of all my moaning and having a bad day rubbish, I found out some terrible news about a friend.  Terrible news that reminded me that in more ways than one that moaning about menial rubbish is worthless.  There is always someone somewhere out there worse off than you with a much more positive attitude.  Who cares if the van is broke and cost more than two mortgage payments to fix, at least Barney is still here and able to drive it.  Be grateful for what you have, even if it is for one small thing you have, while everything else around you is falling apart.  Be grateful for your health, your friends and your family and you will be the richest person in the land.

Today is my God Daughters 11^th birthday and we are off out to celebrate for a meal tonight - having lovely friends, being a god mother and getting to celebrate with them all; I am very thankful.  The rest of the weekend I have a plan of how to get through it and what I'm going to do and when, just to keep me sane - for the ability to plan I am very thankful.

Shannon (my god daughter) and I on my wedding day, 8 years ago!!

So this is me…. begone black horrors, I simply don’t have time for you.  There is far too many good things in life that outweigh the bad every time.

Do have a think (if you have time of course and its not going to stress you out like me!) what you are thankful / grateful for, I promise it will make you feel a bit better and able to cope with the next five minutes at least.

TTFN, Sammy xxx 

Charidee at Christmas...

Well this year has certainly been a busy one, with turning 30 and all that jazz.  Lots of this year, I am very proud to say, has been focused on raising money for charities in one way or another. 

As most of you will know I had a big birthday bash (a little reminder...) http://mrssammyb13.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/a-mad-hatters-tea-party.html?m=1

I sourced most of the props for the party from charity shops, paid a fair price and did my bit.  But it didn’t stop there... After the party I sold all of the props and donated the money raised from the sales to charity.  So I'm very pleased to say that my 30^th birthday was not about spending senselessly for nothing, I raised lots of money for charity, which you can read more about here… http://mrssammyb13.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/charideee.html?m=1  

The final total from the props sold was approx…..

The Rowans Hospice –£60

British Heart Foundation – £70

Cancer Research – £115

Womb Cancer Research - £50

Well all of this has got me thinking about Christmas and charity, giving to others who deserve it and who need it more than ourselves.  So I started looking into volunteering at Christmas.  It is something I have always said I want to do, but ideally I would like to do something locally and just couldn’t find anything.  I also started looking at the food banks in the area to offer my time to, but they are only open during the week while I am at work, so again a no go :0(

I have also decided this Christmas, not to make Christmas puddings.  I have done it for the last few years, but this year I have just run out of time to make them.  I have had lots on with changing jobs, a poorly puppy and a trip to Barcelona – there are not enough hours in the day!  Believe it or not it usually costs me a small fortune to make the pudds, the ingredients/alcohol etc not to mention the 5 hours each one takes to boil!  So we have bought one, I do have one left over from last year we will use as well – so there is a small touch of homemade in there somewhere.  The money I have saved from this, I decided all else failing being able to find something worthy to do – I will donate it to charity.

That very day my decision was made, someone posted on facebook a link from Refuge regarding their Christmas list appeal; to buy a child and or an adult a present this Christmas.  Refuge supports 3,000 women and children, many people fleeing domestic violence are too afraid to risk collecting their belongings and arrive at the Refuge with little more than the clothes they and their children are wearing.  

My mum, who used to do Body Shop parties, used to donate her products that were used as samples (some opened and tried, others just opened and had been passed around at parties) to a local women’s refuge in Portsmouth, who were extremely grateful for shower gels/body creams/make up/ anything really.  We even donated all of my Nan's toiletries when she passed away (two large bags full - I have never seen so many bottles of unopened shampoo in one cupboard!) and what a worthy cause.

So I followed the link and did my bit and have happily purchased a present for a child and a mother, it only cost me £10, and someone with nothing will get a little Christmas cheer this Christmas.  If you want to have a look and help or find out what they do – do click on the link http://refuge.org.uk/get-involved/christmas-gift-list-appeal/

I still had a hankering to do more, and do more locally - but just really unsure what, until someone posted this on facebook…https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/358718177608188/

Just perfect!  A local charity I can actually do something for.  They recommend going to charity shops to buy the items in the rucksack and they are then given out at Centre Point in Portsmouth to the homeless this Christmas.  So off I go to do what I do best…. Shopping!!!

I'll keep you posted! 

TTFN, Sammy xx

Finally some good news!

Yep apart from the fact I'm still poorly! Bad chest and throat, loads of pain from all this coughing and now man flu take 2 to boot!!

I only went and got the job! Yahoo, hooray, bluddy marvellous, we aren’t going to starve come January when I'm made redundant! Yippee!  Plus it is a job I so want, albeit a bit far from home.  I did it for six months around this time last year and I loved it, it was fab.  Made me remember why I wanted to work in housing in the first place.

 

Although I can’t remember ever actually wanting to work in housing, and I am still not really sure what I want to do when I grow up!  I left school wanting to be a vet, hated college and only finished 2 of my A Levels and was desperate to leave education and go to work!  I worked lots of part time jobs for a while, in a pub, in a chip shop, and then finally landed myself a full time job in telesales – whoopee!  Now don’t get me wrong, I met some lovely friends, some I am still friends with now, but I was rubbish at telesales and got sacked!

Needing a new start after what was turning out to be a bad year, heart breaking time with an ex; which ended in him cheating on me, my grandad was diagnosed with cancer, sacked from my job because I was rubbish at sales and left not knowing what to do. Well I grabbed Kat and dragged her to Chichester uni with me (I missed applying, I missed clearing, hell I didn't even have the right qualifications - but I was obviously good at selling something!) and got me a place on a degree course, Social Studies. I worked (sometimes) hard for 3 years, met some very beautiful and lovely people and graduated.

Still had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up, just knew I needed a job! I met Barney in my second year go uni after taking a trip to Oz and I was very luckily able to give up my part time work in my last few months of uni with Barney supporting me, I knew I needed an income. I ended up working in a place my cousin works for a year or so in the facilities dept, which helped pay for our wedding, but for some reason I was determined I wanted to be an estate agent!

Next stop, a recruitment evening for an estate agents in Fareham, which nothing came of. So I took it upon myself to write to all of the local estate agents in the yellow pages and ask for a job. I did get quite a few interviews and settled on Fox and Sons in Fareham as a negotiator, sadly I forgot I was rubbish at selling! So I moved to branch administrator and loved it. Sadly sales was part of the job and I hated sales, but loved doing the 'sales chasing' and getting involved with the solicitors, so a new idea was born! Again I hit the yellow pages and wrote to all the local solicitors to ask for any vacant positions in conveyancing.

This time I was less successful, I only managed 2 interviews and I got a job at Coffin Mew, Fareham; working in the New Business Team in conveyancing. Lots of moving around the office, shuffling teams, promotion, saved from redundancy a few times, but in the end I got the chop.  Home not knowing what to do with myself and needing a job quite desperately, I managed to land myself an interview in a residential Lettings office as their administrator.  Only problem.... It was in Bognor, a 50 mile round trip from home.

Lettings.... I loved it! It is so for me. No sales pressure, busy often panic stricken environment, every day is different, it was brilliant. Had the wage not been so low and the office so far away, I think I probably would still be there now. But, itchy feet I get, and the need to work closer to home became apparent and I started looking around again. It was then that the job in my current company came up as a receptionist, more than the basic wage I was on in Bognor and being such a big company, scope to progress further hopefully!

I loved reception, I worked there for 9 months, until a position came up in Customer Services, which was again more money and I was sadly seduced by the pay packet and accepted a permanent position there. Don't get me wrong, some people love customer services, I did for a few months, but the call centre type strict environment is not for my nature and it was only going to be a matter of time before I was desperate to move on.

Miraculously a 6 month secondment in lettings came up, which it was able to apply for. Now when I first applied for a job at this company I was torn between two positions, one in reception and one in lettings; I only applied for reception as I was convinced that the only way in was to start at the bottom, so now I was shown this opportunity I wanted it more than ever.  It just comes back to what I always knew, I love lettings! I enjoyed working for the company again, enjoyed going to work and had such fun working against deadlines and juggling everything and loved every day being different. Sadly that 6 months came to an end and I landed back with a bump in customer services.

Well we've had a few changes since then and I am being made redundant. I don't feel sad about it in the slightest and am ready for the new challenges and know it will give me the push I need to find another job rather than languishing around doing something I don't like.  I recently got short listed for a job with the police in the control room answering 999 calls, but after spending a day doing assessments and an interview, I just didn't make the grade; which did knock my confidence somewhat. But a job in my current company came up in the lettings team!  

I applied, studied hard for the interview and was yesterday offered a full time permanent position in the team. I am so chuffed, so pleased and so looking forward to it! Just waiting for a start date and the new chapter begins!

TTFN, Sammy xxx

P.s sorry for the chapter and verse, have always had loads to say!!

P.p.s I lost 2lb this week at WW!!!

Yaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy all round xx

I'm a sickly child....

Well I've been quite quiet of late, and for that please accept my apologies! September has been quite rubbish health wise and I've pretty much been ill for most of it!

It started with a nasty virus that wiped me off my feet completely. Swiftly followed by a water infection, which of course led to a kidney infection - and then man flu set in :0( it's been crap, I've not wanted to do anything other than sit around and feel sorry for myself.

It's been a tough month all round for lots of reasons, and adding work and ill health to that has made for a very grumpy Mrs. B.  But it can only get better surely, October and Autumn are just around the corner and maybe Christnas (shhhhh.... I keep being told off for mentioning it!!) 

So time to buck up those ideas and get back to it. Lots planned, lots of exciting things to look forward to and lots of finger crossing too please. I won't say too much but I'm certainly hoping for something brand new along the career line!

Ttfn, Sammy xx

It's a sad day.

So much bad news this week, but today it really is a sad day. 

They say death comes in three's, I'm bored and fed up of death now altogether and I wish that it didn't come at all.  Grief is shit and it never goes away.

That sums up my day today. Sorry to depress you all.

Thinking of everyone living with their bad news, their unbearable heartache and the turmoil of grief that is going on.  My heart goes out to each and every one of you.  Sending you all much love xx

Here's some poetry I've found about grief from reading another blog recently.  Who knows if it will help anyone, but I certainly understand the sentiments all the same. xx

______________________________________________________________

The ball in the bucket

Grief is like a ball in a bucket. To begin with it fills every space, and there is no room for anything else. But over time the bucket grows. It becomes a room, then a floor, then a whole house. The ball never gets any smaller, but your life grows and you have more space to move around your ball. With time there are days when you may not see the ball at all. Other days you open a door in your life and it trips you up. Some days it corners you. But with time you have more space to move the ball out of the way. Other people believe that the ball grows smaller and smaller and eventually vanishes. That is not the case. It will always be the same size.

_____________________________________________________________

Hold me close and go away
Please visit me and please don’t stay
Talk to me but please don’t speak
I need you NOW – come back next week.

Emotions muddled, needs unknown
To be with others or on my own?
To scream out loud? To rant and shout?
Or hide away and push you out?

I smile at you – “She’s not that bad”
I shout at you – “She’s going mad”
I speak to you – “What do I say?”
I show my tears – “Quick, walk away”

It’s not catching, the grief I feel
I can’t pretend that it’s not real
I carry on as best I know
But this pain inside just won’t go.

So true friends, please, accept the lot
I shout, I cry, I lose the plot
I don’t know what I need today
So hold me close and go away.

Exercise is the answer!

Well Zumba.... Let me tell you.... I LOVED it! 

I have the grace of a baby elephant, the co-ordination of a 3 legged giraffe and I am as stiff as a post with no flexibility at all!  But I gave it a go and I loved it.  I dragged my two friends along with me and they loved it too.  The instructor is very lovely, talked us through it all at the beginning, we managed to remember the main principles - breathe, smile, keep moving even if you don't know the steps and have fun - and that we did.

Lots of people knew what they were doing, had the routines down and were quite confident looking, but Donna the instructor, kept us all on our toes and working hard.  We had options for jumping around like a crazy person, or keeping it lower for us new beginners - we of course did a mixture of both!  I loved that Donna rotated the rows of people, so no hiding at the back for anyone!.  After every song, the front row moved to the back and the back rows closer to the front, so you got your spot at the front - which for me is quite important, I'm as blind as a bat!

We were all knackered afterwards, certainly a good work out all round and I was at home, showered, eaten and in bed by 10pm - something that never happens!

If you do fancy it, do check out Donna's web page with all her local classes listed on here....
http://donnaarcher.zumba.com/

After Zumba, I was inspired to pick up some more exercise, so went along to aqua aerobics on Thursday with a friend.  We used to do aqua every Thursday without fail, so thought I knew what I was letting myself in for and knew I would whole heartedly enjoy it.  Well I couldn't have been more wrong!  No actual aerobic exercise as such, no warm up, lots of work trying to keep an extremely bouyant float under the water for an hour and doing some pushing and pulling motions, a 45 second stretch and cool down at the end and a very unhappy Mrs B.  Four days later and all the muscles in my back, neck and shoulders are still killing me, I feel like I have done myself a real mischief.  It certainly wasn't worth the £6.20 I paid for it and I will not be going again.  I much rather wished I'd done a second Zumba session instead, and is certainly what I might do this week, and it is cheaper as well!

Well weigh in was Saturday and I'm 4.5lb down woo hoo! So Weight Watchers does work when you actually do it, and I do think the exercise definitely helped!  So World watch out.... I'm going back to Zumba tonight!

TTFN.... Sammy xx

Sad news....

So this week I've been rubbish!  Went to WW on Saturday to help Donna out at her new meeting.  If anyone is wanting to join WW and need an early Saturday morning meeting, 9.15am in Hilsea/North End, I can thoroughly recommend!  It is quite a new meeting and quite small at the moment, but very friendly none the less.  It is in St Francis Church Hall, Northern Parade – do let me know if you need more details, I will be happy to help.  I think it’s a brilliant time to get weighed, out of the way and done and dusted including the meeting and home by 10.30am ready to get on with the weekend.

 

Anyways, I digress… I didn’t weigh on Saturday at the meeting I was helping out at, as I had full intentions to go on the Sunday and then went out and got VERY drunk!  Mr B came along too and was just as much of a bad influence, but I did have a lovely weekend with two of my favourite favourite ladies, J & H.  We did a Chimichanga dinner Friday night and then the little pub in Westbourne for a wineSaturday night, along with a few others.  I did sneakily have wine on both nights and this ended in emergency Maccy D’s for breakfast Sunday morning, a lay in till gone 1pm, a pub roast dinner, a bacon roll, some crisps, chocolate and skittles, I even tried a cider as a hair of the dog…. I can confirm that this all just leads to feeling very bad for yourself from eating so much and actually eating more rubbish!  Not looking forward to weigh in this week as it has long continued along the week…

 

Well after all this, it has finally dawned on me, my lovely friend H is leaving us.  She is moving to pastures new, she has a brilliant opportunity in the land of vajazzles and sadly she isn’t going to be around the corner for a cuppa anymore.  Rubbish :0(  We’ve had H’s leaving do (I got much more drunk than anticipated!) I've packed her up a hamper of boring essentials for her new lovely flat, I've found homes for a few things I no longer have use for (in H’s flat) and I am going to miss her terribly :0(  Even more rubbish!

 

I am very pleased for H, we worked together a while back and did a spot of Mini adventuring with car sharing to our place of work and have had a few good drunken nights out and around, including my very first music festival a few years back!  It will certainly be strange not to have H round the corner or for her to be able to pop over to chez Barcroft for a spot of a la carte Mexican or pizza, but I can’t wait to go and visit the land of tango tan (J and I are off on a road trip and to visit the infamous Sugar Hut aren’t we J?!?!) and we’ll see her again at a half term not so far away.  It will be lovely for H being closer to her lion than she is now, but we will all miss her terribly.

 

So that’s it, I'm off to eat chocolate and drink wine in commiseration…. :0(

 

TTFN xx